Signal system.



C. E. BEACH.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION mu) OCT. 1. 1915.

Patented All". 6, 1918.

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c. E. BEACH. SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLlCATlON FILED OCT-b1915- Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

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INVENTOR 26.

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UNITE SATES ATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE E. BEACH, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEWTON UPPER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application filed October 1, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be :it known that I, CmnnNou E. Bnacir, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bingha-mton, in the county of llroome and State of New York, have invented certain new and use't'ul Improvements .in Signal Systems, of which the Following is a specitication.

This invention relates to electrical signal systems and is particularly adapted for use in connection With receiving and recording devices having polarized magnetic mechanism embodying the inventions disclosed in Letters Patent 1,176,421, and 1,176,422, dated March 21, 1916, but various features of this invention are capable of use, either alone or in, combination with each other, in connection with many other types o'l receiving and recording devices, and with various terms of signal systems.

Certain 'leatures of this invention are particularly adapted for use in systems having circuits which. are depended upon for the transmission of signals of special importance, as for instance lire alarm signals, and which circuits are adapted for use For the transmission o'l comparativcly unin'iportant signals, as for instance routine telegraphic signals, and which are so constructed that when these circuits are employed for telegraphic signals, such signals shall not intert'ere with fire alarm signals, circuits of this character being hereinafter referred to as con'ibination circuits.

OOlTll'dlltllllOTl circuit systems have been devised (such as that disclosed in Letters latout No. 650,358, dated May 22, 1900, to \Vm. ll. Kirnan) having make and break telegraph keys, non-polarized and polarized relays, telegraph soumlcrs and alarming devices sueh tap bells or registers, or both tap bells and registers at lire apparatus houses, and having means at tire alarm headquarters lor reversing the polarity of such con'ibination circuits: all so arranged that at or about the commencement ol? the transmission ot a fire alarm signal the polarity of such circuits will be reversed and the polarized relays at the fire apparatus houses will render the telegraph sounders unresponsive and the alarming devices responsive to the non-polarized relays, so that the alarm signals will be responded to by tlw alarming devices, and will close a shunt and thereby Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Serial No. 53,563.

disable the telegraph keys; and so that at the conclusion of the transmission of a lire alarm signal the polarity of such circuits will be restored to normal, whereupon the polarized relays at the tire apparatus houses will remove the shunts from their associated telegraph keys, and remove the alarming devices from and restore the telegraph sounders to the. control ol said non-polarized rclays.

In systems such as just described, local batteries are required at the tire apparatus houses for local circuits controlled by both the non-polarized and the polarized relays, so that the correct transmission of important alarm signals is dependent upon the effectiveness of numerous contact points which are normally open, and upon the effectiveness of local batteries which it has not been found practicable to keep under constant test, and it has been Found that, through lack of the supervision and constant inspection which is available for the main batteries at lire alarm headquarters, such local batteries are liable. to tail and cause alarms to be incorrectly interrupted by the alarn'iing devir-es or entirely lost.

Tn such systems it has also been found that it the telegraph key at any lire apparatus house is held depressed through accident or design (as for instance, through accidentally laying a book on the desk so as to hold the key open) the associated combination circuit is not only rendered useless for telegraphic signals while such key is so held open but is also rendered useless for fire alarm signals, as the polarized relay controlling the shunt around such open key will not be energized to act; to shunt; said key until the circuit has been closed at the key. it has 'lurther been lound that it. such a circuit is standing open incident to the transmission of a telegraphic signal or it the attendant at some lireapparatus house unwittingly starts to transmit a telegraphic signal at or about the instant that a fire alarm signal starts, one or more strokes of the tire alarm signal may be lost before the reversal of polarity at lire alarm headquarters becomes effective at the polarized relay controlling the shunt around the key so operated.

Such earlier systems have been expensive to manufacture and have required skilled loud sounding alarming, devices,

tems.

sounding alarming 55,.

,cuit open,

supervision to keep them in operative condition, as it is not sufficient to keep the main current source at fire alarm headquarters in proper operating condition, but each of the local current sources must also be kept in correspondingly good condition, nor is it sufficient to keep all circuit making and breaking contacts at fire alarm headquarters in good order, as the condition of the relay contacts at the fire apparatus houses is of equal-importance, as they are vital to the translation of the alarm thereat, and these contacts are more exposed to dirtand corrosion than those at headquarters, while usually being in charge of persons unskilled in the adjustment and care of electrical apparatus. 1

v.It has beendeemed expedient to provide two. classes of alarming devices, at fire apparatus houses which are subject to frequent alarms, whereby alarm signals can be first transmitted to bereceived in a comparatively noiseless manner but so as to bring the alarm to the attention of a special attendant (usually termed the house watch), and then can be transmitted to cause responsive operation of comparatively such as large gongs which will attract the attention and cause response of, all the firemen in the house, so that a cutoff switch may be provided to silence the large gongs in the event of the house watch deciding that his company is not due to respond to that particular alarm, thusin the instance of night alarms all of the firemen may sleep through alarms except those in houses having apparatus due .to. respond to such alarm, and, for want of a .better term, suchfirm alarm systems will be hereinafter referred to as still alarm, sys- It is evident that such still alarm systems should be so constructed that the loud sounding alarmingjde'vices may be alternately rendered unresponsive and responsive to their circuit without thereby causing them to sound, and on the other hand, it is well understood by those skilled inthis art that ordinary alarming devicesare arranged to sound when their controlling magnets are successively energized and ,de'elnergized. In view of these considerations it has been the practice to connect the comparatively loud devices in a normally open circuit, such normally open circuit being either controlled by a rel; y and supplied by ,a local battery at the fire apparatus house and having a silencing switch where by the house watch could hold such local ciror being a separate normally open circuit from fire alarm headquarters and having a silencing switch which was arranged to shunt the loud sounding alarming device and in some cases to substitute a corresponding resistance therefor. In either event the loud sounding alarming device was thus silenced during thetime that the house watch held the switch in abnormal position. i 7

One or more of the following disadvantages have been present in all of the still alarm systems employed prior to this present invention. 1. Normally open circuits have been employed, although it is well recognized in fire alarm practice that it is highly undesirable to employ normally open alarm circuits. 2. Local batteries have been employed at the various fire apparatus houses, thus incurring extra expensefor the maintenance of batteries which are only occasionally used, requiring a large amount of work for the inspection and maintenance of such batteriesat widely distributed points, and incurring a chance of alarm failures or lost alarms due to the inherent chance of failure without notice. 3. While the house watch has been warned when to commence silencing the loud sounding alarming devices, there has when such silencing could be discontinued.

been nothing to indicate It has been deemed highly desirable that ing such duplicate circuits will hereinafter two classes of be referred to as having alarm circuits.

In the operation of systems having two classes of alarm circuits it is customary to first transmit alarm signals over circuits of one class and to then transmit them over circuits of the other class, and for want of better terms for indicating the order in which such classes of circuits are employed,

circuits of the class over which alarm signals are first transmitted will be hereinafter referred to as primary alarm circuits, and

.. circuits of such other class will be referred .to as secondary alarm clrcuits.

As the secondary alarm circuits of still alarm systems heretofore used have been normally open, it has been impracticable to employ them for routine telegraphic signals, and the primary "circuits of such systems have therefore been employed for the transmission of telegraphic signals.

Important objects of this'invention are as follows To provide a signal system comprising combination circuits so constructed and arranged that the receipt of alarm signals at the fire apparatus houses will not be dependent upon any normally open circuit, upon any local battery or battery not constautly available for inspection and test by the attendants at fire illttlll'l hea lquarters, the closing of normally open contacts of any relay at a fire apparatus house, or the maintenance of adjustn'ients oil relays at lire a pparatus houses or other than at fire alarm headquarters.

To provide for the connection without the use of relays or local batteries, of alarming devices and telegraphic devices in combination circuits adapted for use with existing systems, so as to accomplish the useful tunetions of corresponding parts ot said existing systems which are controlled by the use of relays and local batteries in such existing systems.

To provide a signal system. having two classes of alarm circuits, c., primary circuits and secondary circuits, the circuits of one of which classes being combinathm circuits, in which the telegraphic transmitting devices in such combination circuits are so controlled as to avoid mutilation of or loss of alarms either in the primary or secondary circuits because of the transmission of concurrent telegraphic signals or because of any telegraphic key or keys standing open.

To provide a signal system having two classes of alarm circuits, 0., primary and secondary alarm circuits, the circuits o'l one of which classes being combination circuits,

' in which the combination circuits are so arranged that they can be used for telegraphic signals only while the associated circuit of the other class stands closed. so that should one of the other class of alarm circuits be interrupted and thereafter stand open indefinitelyall ot the telegraph keys in the associated combination circuit will be and remain disabled upon and during such interruption.

To provide simple and inexpensive means at each. lire apparatus house whereby the telegraph key connected in the combination circuit at such house will be disabled or shunted out throughout the transmission o'l any alarm over such combination circuit and for a predetermined time lhereal'ter.

To provide simple and inexpensive means at iach lire apparatus house whereby the telegraph keys at such house. will be disabled or slumtcd-out throughout the trai'isinission oi alarms over either ot' the classes of cireuits connecting such fire apparatus house with fire alarm hemlduarters and For a predetermined time tl'lGI'flitiFtOi.

To provide simple and inexpensive means at'each lire apparatus house whereby the telegraph key connected in the combination circuit at such house will be disabled or sluinted-out throughout the transn'iission o l any alarm over either ot the two classes of circuits connecting such lire :u'iparat us house with headquarters and For a predetermined time thereafter, and so that should one of the other class ol alarm circuits be interrupted and thereafter stand open indefinitely, all of the telegraph keys in the associated combination circuit will be and re.- main disabled upon and during such interruption.

To provide a jlorm of combinatit'm circuit adapted to include polarized alarming devices constructed and arranged to retain their armatures in attracted position during telegraphic signals but whose armatures retract during alarm signals and require an extraordinarily large current to move said armatures to attracted position.

To provide a form ot combiinition circuit in which certain alarming devices and telegraphic devices will be automatically interchangeably connected without altering the resistance of the circuit.

To provide a Form of normally closed secondary alarm circuits in which the normal current flow is of sullicient strength to be capable ol' causing the operation of the alarming devices therein and having etlective silencing switches 'lor alarming devices therein.

To provide a signal system comprising a normally closed alarm circuit including alarming devices which are um'esponsive to m-dinary breaks in said circuit and having means "For causing the operation ol' one or more of said alarming devices without operatively altering the current tlow througlr out. such circuit.

To provide a controlling switch adapted 'lor use at fire alarm herulquarters in con nection with transmitting mechanism con-- ncctcd in a con'ibiuation circuit whereby the operative relation of such transmitting mechanism with such combination circuit may be adjusted so that when said switch is in one position the operation ol' such transmitting mechanism will cause response of the telegraphic receiving devices only, and when said switch is in another position the operation of such transn'iitting mechanism will cause response oi" the alarming devices.

To render such signaling systems more simple and more. economical to mmm'l'm-ture, install, and maintain. and adapted 'l'or accurate operation throughout long periods without requiring re-adjustment or the attention ol" a skillul person to keep them in working order.

()lher objects o't this invention are described in the tollmving specification and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

in the interest of lne'vity. and 'lor want of a better term, signal or alarm translating devices both of the type ordinarily characterized direct acting and ol the type ordinarily clmractcrized as electroniechanical, will be hereina'lter re'l erred to as alarming devices, and whenever alarm ing devices are hereinafter relerred to as being included in any circuit, it is intended to thereby indicate that the magnets whichfurnish the operating force for direct acting alarming devices or which by the movement imparted to their armatures mechanically and directly control the mechanism of electromechanical devices, are included in such circuit without the intervention of relays, local batteriesor local circuits.

In applying this invention to a signal system comprising a combination. circuit, the sounding and recording devices employed in such circuit are select-ed from the forms of such apparatus which are commercially so constructed as to retain their operative adjustment throughout long periods of use and which have main line magnets whose armatures mechanically control or drive the sounding or marking mechanism, said magnets being polarized in accordance with the inventions disclosed in my aforesaid copending applications, or otherwise so constructed and arranged as to be unresponsive to ordinary makes and breaks of the signal circuit such as are produced by the operation of ordinary telegraph keys, but are responsive to extraordinary current changes in the combination circuit, such as reversals of the current flow, and transmitting mechanism is provided at lire alarm headquarters for making such extraordinary current changes in the circuit, and there is also provided 1n the circuit suitable telegraphic mechanism consisting of the desired number of telegraph keys and suitable telegraphic receiving devices such as the usual telegraph sounders which are responsive to ordinary makes and breaks of the circuit, Each telegraphic transmitting device or key is provided with suitable disabling means, such as a shunt, suitably controlled by one or more of the alarming devices associated with or located adjacent to such telegraphic transmitting device, so as to cause the telegraphic transmitting device to be disabled whenever, under the conditions of the service for which such combination circuit is employed, it is desirable that said transmitting device should be disabled. For example, a system employing primary and secondary alarm circuits may be so arranged that whenever and so long as either the primary or the secondary circuit is in abnormal condition, the telegraphic transmitting device will be and remain disabled. i

If such a combination circuit is a secondary alarm circuit associated with a primary alarm circuit, and it is desirable that no telegraphic signals may be transmitted between the initiation of an alarm signal on the primary circuit and the completion of that signal on the second; ry circuit, alarming devices in the primary and secondary circuits, each having time measuring trains, such as the dial transfer train of a visual indicator or the paper feeding train of a register, which trains are arranged to be conditioned upon each. stroke of an alarm to continue operating for a time longer than the longest interval. between strokes of any alarm, should be equipped with circuit controlling contacts, controlled by said trains, and so connected with the telegraphic transmi tting device shunt that said shunt will be 1 initiation of the transmission of such alarm upon the secondary alarm circuit, a similar shunt will be closed by the train associated with an alarming device responsive to the secondary alarm circuit and this second shunt will nemain effective until there has been no alarm impulse in the secondary circuit for a time longer than the longest silent period between the lnll'i litij-lOll O'f such alarm I and the completionot' its transmission over the secondarycireuit and will then be automatically opened.

If it is deemed unnecessary to automatically prevent the transmission offtelegraphic signals after warning has been given, by the transmission of an alarm over the primary circuit, that itis about to-lbetransmitted over the secondary circuit, such a system may be arranged so that the telegraphic i}12LHSlIl1i1-.

ting devices will be disabled fromthe action of the primary circuit only, in which case the attendants at the fire apparatus houses should be so trained that they will not break the secondary circuit after an alarm has started in the pnimary circuit, until the transmission of such alarm is completed on the secondary circuit,

If, owing to the conditions of service, it is desirable that the icombin'ation circuit shall not cause responsive action. of the telegraphic receiving devices during the transmission of alarm signals, such telegraphic receiving devices-should be controlled by the disabling means, as? by inclusion in the shunt controlled as just described.

If it is desired that the eurrentfiow in a combination circuit shall not be materially altered when the telegraphic receiving devices are shunted out, the shunting switches controlled by the alarming devices should be arranged to substitute for the telegraph sounder an equivalent resistance, which may be the magnet windings of an alarming device such as, for example, a tap bell, so that during alarms the tap bell will. sound, and

the telegraph sounder will only act in response to telegraphic signals.

If the conditions of service are such that it is desirable that; the telegraph transmitting devices at each fire apparatus house or substation will be and remain disabled atter the initiation of any alarm, until manually restored, each shunt switch should be so controlled by a suitable alarming device, such as for example, a tap belt, that, upon the first alarm impulse in the circuit in which said device is included, such switch will be closed and will thereafter remain closed until manually restored.

it it is desired to prevent the transmission of telegraphic signals over a secondary combination circuit throughout any period durin which its associated primary circuit may stand open, as the result, for example, of a broken line wire,-thc shunts around the various telegraph keys should be so controlled by suitable alarming devices, as for instance by tap bells included in the primary alarm circuit, that, when the armatures of such bells stand in retracted position, such shunts will be closed.

In applying this invention to some signaling systems it may be found sullicient to provide such armature controlled shunts without also providing train controlled shunts, while in other systems, owing to ditl'erent operating conditions, both armature controlled and train controlled shunts will be required. \Vhenever any such primary circuit armature controlled shunt is employed in a secondary combination circuit, it evident that, it the primary circuit stands broken, the secondary circuit cannot be used for the transmission of telegraphic signals but will be reserved for the eX'clusiveuse of alarms,thus removing all chance of its being open at a telegraphic transmitting device at the time an alarm should be transmitted thereon.

This invention may be applied to existing; systems with. a minimum of change by empltwing alarming devices having magnetic striurtau-e, such for example as shown in Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to, in which the electromagnet part and the permanent magnet part etl'ectively attract the armature when acting in parallel, and are so proportioned that when the electromagnet part and the permanent magnet part are acting in series the armature is effectively attracted by the excess magnetism of the elecjztroniagnetpart beyond that which may readily pass through the pern'ianent magnet part. Such ala'rn'iing devices should be so connectedthat the normal direction of current tlow through the circuit is such t at the electromagnet part and the permanent magnet part are acting in parallel, so that the armature will be attracted. It now a break occurs in the circuit, the armature will remain attracted. If the current is reversed the armature will still remain in attracted position, but upon a break in the circuit alter the current has been reversed, the arn'lature will be retracted and thus will cause the indication of a stroke of an alarm. During sub sequent closures of the circuit the arn'lature will be attracted, and retracted during breaks, thus indicating each break in the circuit while the current is reversed. At the completion oi the transmission of the alarm, the current is restored to normal direction.

In order to provide for an increase in (hot [low of current when the direction of flow is reversed, the shunt "for the telegraphic transmitting device should be made to in clude the telegraphic receiving device as well, so as to decrease the resistance in the circuit'when the polarized alarming device is intended to be actuated.

it the conditions of service are such that it is desirable that alarming devices which are not responsive to ordinary makes and breaks 01 their circuit should be operable from emergency keys provided at the tire apparatus houses, so that for instance the house watch may call the liremcn upon re ceiving a telephone call or a verbal alarm, a local current source should be supplied for each tire house having such alarming devices which are to be so operated, and one or more emergency keys should he provided for connecting such current source to the terminals of the device or devices in such manner that when so connected an operative current change will occur in the windings of said device or devices. In cases where [ire apparatus houses are provided with alarming devices comprising alarm sounding instruments such as bells, alarm recording instrumeuts such as registers, alarm indicating instrmncnts such as lighting switches for controlling the electric lamps in the tire apparatus house, and mechanism for releasing horses. opening stable doors, or starting the engines of nuitor-driven tire apparatus. a plurality ot keys may be provided, one of which keys should so connect the local current source to all of said alarn'ling devices as to operativcly alter the current tlow theretln'ough, and other keys should correspondingly alter the current flow through irulividual devices, so that for instance the horses may be released, or the engines started, or the lights turned on, without sounding the alarm bell. etc.

In systems employing combination circuits it has been the practice to provide two sets of contacts at fire alarm headquarters, one set for the transmission of telegraphic impulses and another set for the transmission of alarm impulses. although both sets should never be simultaneously used. In arranging the transmitting mechanism at such a headquarters in accordance with this invention, but one set of contacts need be provided, and controlling switch n'iechan-ism should be so connected with such contacts that when the switch mechanism is in one position, the contacts for effecting the abnormal current changes, such as reversals of polarity, will be effective, but when the switch mechanism is in another position such contacts will be'rendered i'ncfiective. Provision may also be made whereby the transmitting mechanism may be operated without formulating any signaling impulses in the circuit by providing a third position for the switch mechanism and so connecting the switch mechanism that when in this third position the transmitting mechanism cannot operatively alter the current flow 'in the circuit.

It is obvious that when operating conditions permit, it is desirable that but one set of contacts should be employed for the transmitting mechanism at headquarters, and in accordance with this invention such contacts may be actuated by a suitable manually or mechanically operated key, as-

sociated with switch mechanism such as just described, it being evident that-if but one key is employed, a second operator cannot break in on the same set of circuits from head quarters for a telegraphic signal when such keyis in use for alarms, no matter how confused he may become, although this could easily take place if separate keys or transmitting mechanism were provided.

In employing this invention where the conditions of service are such that it is desirable to provide a silencing switchfor certain alarming devices the fire apparatus houses, such as large bells,'-li'ghting switches, stable trips, engine starters, etc, so that such devices may beincludedin a normally closed circuit and still be rendered unresponsive to alarm impulses, such alarming devices should be so constructed and arranged as not :to be responsive to ordinary makes and breaks of their circuit, and suitable switches and shunt circuits should be provided whereby said devices may be shunted out or switched out of the circuit.

Inasmuch as conditions may arise under which all of the'silencing switches on one circuit will be operated at or about the same time (as for, instance when none of the com panies served by a given circuit are due torespondon a given alarm) 1t is-desirable that a corresponding resistance be substi tuted for the alarming devices which are switched out by means of these silencing switches. I

In order to guard against the silencing switch being left in its silencing position, each of .sueh.switches should be provided with agrestoring, spring so that it will auto matically move to the position where it ren ders the various alarming devices efiective except when manually held in its silencing position.

In order to indicate the completion of an alarm, so that the silencing switch need not be prematurely released, the combination circuit should include the, loud sounding alarming devices, and the telegraphic receiving devices should not be controlled by the silencing switch, thus the attendant may de' termine when the transmission of an alarm on that circuithas been completed, so that the switch may be held in its silencing position until the completion of the alarm, and thereby save arousing the other occupants of that fire apparatus house through miscal'culating the time required for transmitting such alarm.

In order that this invention may be better understood, the application thereof to a number of different types of signaling systems, is shown in the annexed drawings, but this invention is not lim-itedto the applications shown, and it is evident that features of this invention are suitable to be applied to various types of signaling systems, either separately or in combination with each other, and this invention is not limited to the particular construction, arrangementor design of parts shown in said drawings and hereinafter described, as same are given merely for the clearer illustration of this invention, and many changes, and the inclusion or omission of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Figure 1 diagrammatically indicates an application of features of this invention to a signal system having one or more box circuits controlling an automatic repeater, and primary and secondary alarm circuits.

' Fig. 2 diagramn'iaticall'y indicatesanother method of applying features of this invention to a signal system-similar to that shown in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 diagrammatically indicates an application of features of this invention to a signal system having one or more box cirequipmentadapted to'be installed at afire apparatushouse is shown below dotted line A-A and to the left of dotted line B.

The box circuit '21 includes the alarm boxes 22, 22, the current source 23-and a re peater ma'gnet24.

In connection with the'r'epeater magnet 24, transmitting mechanism, adaptedq-toabef located at lire alarm headquarters, is con ventionally indicated by the armature 25, the arm 26 pivoted at 27 and carrying said armature and the step by step detent ledges 28, the detent arm 29, which is arranged to so cooperate with said detcnt .ledges that said arm will be released whenever the armature 25 moves to retracted position and having made a revolution will be stopped regardless of whether the armature stands in attracted or retracted position and will thereafter only be released when the armature moves from attracted to retracted position, the cylinder 30 moving with the detent arm 29, the cont-act. plate 31 carried by said cylinder, and the contact lingers 32 and 33. Plate 31 normally connects said contact fingers but is withdrawn from connection therewith during the rotation of the cylin' der 30.

The contact fingers 3i and 33 control a primary alarm circuit 31 in which a suitable current source 35 is prmided.

l'leadqmu'ters pole changing transmitting i'nechanism is generally indicated at 37 and 33, the transmitting mechanism 37 being comentionally shown as mechanically operable, and the transmitting mechanism 38 being conventionally shown as manually operable, the mechanism 37 and 38 being suitably connected to the secondary alarm combination circuit 36 and to the main current source 39 therefor.

The conventionally indi -ated telegraph sounder -l-(), for the lire alarm headquarters, is serially included in the secomlary alarm combination circuit 36.

Controlling switch mechanism is generally indicated at ll and 42, the switch mechanism ll being associated with and adapted to control the operation of the transmitting mechanism 37, and the switch mechanism 42 being associated with and adapted to control the operation of the transmitting mech anism 38.

The transmitting mechanism 37 com prises,-the movable contacts .1-3 and. 44; which are connected to the respective terminals of the main current source 39, the normally closed contacts -fl-5 and 46 which co operate with the movable contacts 43 and H respectively, the normally open contacts 4;? and 48 which are adapted to cooperate with said movable contacts 413 and 4-1 res 'iectively for effecting abnormal current changes in the secondary combination circuit. 36, the "insulating yoke 49 which connects the movable contacts 43 and. 41 1' for simultaneous operation, and typical mechanical operating means 50 arranged to act through the extension 51 to operate the movable contacts l3 and 44.

The controlling switch mechanism 41 comprises,the arms 52 and 53, the in sulating yoke 54 which connects said arms for sinmltancous moven'ient, the contacts 55 aml 5U tor the arm 52, the contacts 57 and 5H for the arm 53, and suitable conductors connecting the arms 52 and 53 with the normally closed contacts to and lb respectively, the contacts 55 and 57 with the movable contacts l3 and ill respectively, and the contacts 56 and 53 with the contacts l8 and -17 respectively.

The relative constructi m and arrangement oi the arms 5:3 and 53 and their c0- operating contacts 5t, 57 and 58 is such that said arms may be moved to a position in which they will not connect with any of such contacts.

The connection and arrangement of the parts of the transmitting mechanism 38 and controlling switch mechanism l2 are the same as that ol correspomling parts of the transmitting mm'hanism 37 and controlling switch mechanism ll, the manually operable extension or button 51 being provided for the convenient actuation of the movable contacts l3 and ll of said transmitting mechanism 38.

Fire apparatus house alarming devices are generally indicated by the group of polarized alarming devices (30, consisting of the loud sounding electromeclmnical gong 1 and the lighting switch (32; recording devices consisting ol the polarized register (33 and the non-polarized register (34:; and a comparatively noiseless alarming device consisting ol a direct acting tap bell (55.

Fire apparatus house telegraphic devices are diagrammatically indicated by the make and break transmitting device (36, which is shown as a closed circuit telegraph key, and the make and break non-polarized receiving device 67 which is conventionally shown as a telegraiih sounder.

inasmuch as the electromechanical gong til. the lighting switch (32, and the polarized register (33 have a similar l'orm ol" magnet structure, correslnnulin parts thereof are represented by like reilerence characters.

The electromagnet section of each said magnet structure, diagrammatically indicated at. (18, comprises two magnet cores and electromagnet windings therefor which are serially included in the secondary alarm combination circuit 36. an armature (39 being arranged to bridge one set o'l' the adjacent ends of said cores, the other set of :uljacent ends of said cores being magnetically discmmected.

The permanent magnet section of the said magnet structure comprises the permanent magnets 70 and the comparatively non-retentive extensions, diagrannmitically indicated at 71, the permanent magnets being so connected by means of said extensions with the core ends of the electromagnet section which are adjacent to the armature that the like poles of all of said permanent magsubjected, the direction of the magnetizationv of the electromagnet cores being, in this event, such as to produce consequent poles in the vicinity of the armatures 69, and the cores-employed in the electromagnet sections 68 should be comparatively retentive of magnetism so that during interruptions in the flow of current in said abnormal direction in said circuit 36 each armature 69 will be retained in attracted position. The number and size of the permanent magnets used should be such that a current flow through the electromagnet windings of the normal intensity and direction will produce such magnetization of the electromagnet cores in series with the magnetization of the permanent magnet section that the magnet structure will havebut two free poles, which will be developed at the ends of the electromagnet cores which arenot adjacent to the armature, and, as the poles adjacent to the armatures will be neutralized, said armatures 69 will be permitted to move to retracted position.

The mechanism controlled by the armature 69 of the electromechanical gong 61 is typically indicated by the bell crank lever 72 upon one end of which the armature 69 is mounted, the step by step escapement ledges 73 mounted upon the other end of said bell crank lever, the bell 75, and the typical hammer which is suitably controlled by the movement of said ledges and which may be driven by any suitable mechanism, (not shown) to operate in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art,'so that,

6 whenever the armature 69 moves to retracted position, the hammer 74 'will be permitted to move into contact with the bell 75 and thus sound said bell.

The lighting switch 62 may consist of any well known mechanism'adapted to control suitable lighting devices as typically indi cated by the lamp 76. Such mechanism be- I 77 andsothat said hook will be Withdrawn from the path of said contact 7 8 when the armature moves to attracted position.

The lighting switch 62 is illustrated for the purpose of typifying the various trips and other alarming devices utilized in various fire apparatus houses for lighting lamps, releasing stable doors, starting the engines of motor driven fire apparatus, etc., it being understood that the group of alarming devices indicated by the reference char acter 6O typifies those alarming devices which might be termed, for want of a better designation, loud sounding alarming devices because they are of such a character that their action will be manifested generally throughout the fire apparatus house in which they are installed, as distinguished from registers or recorders, small tap bells, telegraph sounders, indicators, etc., Whose operation is only manifested to those in close proximity to them. 7 v

The register 63 is provided with suitable recording mechanism controlled or operated by its armature 69 and having paper feeding mechanism for the tape 81, comprising a suitable train which is typically indicated by the feed rollers 82 and 83, said paper feeding train being so controlled by said recording mechanism as to be conditioned, upon each stroke of an alarm, to continue running for a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm, as is usual in registers employed for recording fire alarms. The register is provided with circuit closing means comprising the contacts 84 and 85 which are so arranged as to be closed throughout substantially all of the periods during which said train is condiart.

Disabling means for thetelegraphictransmitting device or key 66 is provided in the form of a shunt current path controlled by the contacts 841: and 85, anditis evident that such shunt current path'will be closed during substantially all of the periods during which the feeding train of the register 63 is running.

The polarized magnetic structure of the alarming devices 61, 62 and 63 is employed for the purpose of rendering these devices unresponsive to ordinary makes and brakes of the combination circuit 36, such as those produced by the operation of the telegraph key 66, while rendering said alarming de vices responsive to extraordinary current changes, such as those which may be produced by the operation of the pole changing transmitting mechanism 37 or 38.

The register 6% is equipped with non polarized magnetic controlling structure arranged to suitably control or operate recording'mechanism inanyusual or Well known manner, and comprising paper feeding mechanism and contacts controlled thereby tioned for running, as is well known in the H and responsive to the operatioi'i oi. the recording mechanism in a manner similar to that described in connection with the register (33, so as to similarly control a shunt current path around the telegraphic transmitting key 66. The electron'iagnet windings of the register (S-l are serially included in the primary alarm circuit 3 1:.

The comparatively noiseless tap bell 65 provided with suitable electromagnct windings which are serially included in the primary alarm circuit 3i and are adapted to cause said bell to sound as a direct acting tap bell in a well known manner, circuit contacts being associated with the armature of said bell whereby a slmnt around the telegraphic transmitting key 66 will be closed during all periods when the armature of said bell is in retracted position.

The shunt contacts of the register (ll are rovided for the purpose of disabling the telegraph key (36 upon the first stroke of any alarm trai'ismitted over the primary alarm circuit 34 and to thereafter n'iaintain said key in disabled condition until after the elapse ot a time, during which. no alarm strokes have been transmitted over said circuit 34, which is longer than the longest interval between the strokes of any alarm.

The shunt contacts of the register (33 are provided for the purpose of disabling the telegraph key (it; upon the first stroke of any alarm which is transmitted ()VOI' the secondary alarm combination circuit 36 and to thereafter maintain said key in disabled condition until after the elapse ot a time, during which no alarm strokes have been transmitted over said circuit 36, which is longer than the longest interval between the strokes of any alarm.

The shunt contacts of the tap bell 65 are provided for the purpose of disabling the telegraph key 66 throughout all periods during which the primary alarm circuit 3+. stands interrupted.

The resistance 90 is substantially equiva lent to the combined resistance of the loud sounding alarming devices 61 and 62 and is serially included in the circuit 36 in such relation to said devices that the portion of said circuit including said resistance may he shunted without thereby shunting any other devices, and said alarming devices are so connected in said circuit that the portion of said circuit including said devices may be shunted without shunting said resistance.

The switch arm 86 and the contacts 87 and 88 are connected by suitable conductors with such points in the circuit 36 that, when said arm touches the contact 87 the resistance 90 will be shunted, and, when said arm touches the contact.88 the alarming devices 61 and 62 will be shunted.

A group of emergency keys is generally indicated by the reference character 91, said keys being so connected and arranged that, when operated, they will apply all or a suitable part oi? the local current source 92 to either one or both oi the alarming devices (31 and (S2 in such polarity as to reverse the direction 01 normal current flow therethrough, diverting the normal current flow of said circuit 36 through said local current source.

The Oll'lOl'gCl'lCy key 93 is so connected and arranged that, when operated, it will connect the entire.local current source 92 around the portion ol. the circuit 36 which serially includes the electromagnet windings of the alarming devices (31 and (32 and the resistance 90.

The emergency key 94.- is so connected and arranged that, when operated, it will connect a suitable part ol. the local current source 92 around the portion of the circuit 36 which includes the windings of the alarming device 61.

The emergency key 95 is so connected and arranged that, when operated, it will connect a suitable part of the local current source )2 around the portion of the circuit 30 which serially includes the windings of the alarming device 62 and the resistance 90.

Other lire apparatus houses 96, 96, 96 are diagrannnatically indicated as being serially included in the duplicate alarm circuits 34 and 36, and are each assumed to be equipped with such alarming and telegraphic devices as the conditions of service thereat may require.

The operation of the fire alarm system shown in Fig. 1 is as follows:

Under normal conditions the box circuit 21, the primary alarm circuit 341, and the secondary alarm combination circuit 36 are closed; the direction of current flow in the circuit 36 being such as will magnetize the electromagnet sections (38 of alarming devices (51, 2 and (33 in series with their permanent magnet sections, so that their associated armatures (39 will stand in retracted position; the disabling shunt (JOIlttlVlS of the alarming devices 63, (ii and (35 stand open; the mechanically movable parts shown are at rest; and the normal current path through the circuit 36 is as 'l'ollows,-l"rom the upper terminal of main current source 39, through movable contact 43, normally closed contact 4:53 of the transmitting mechanism 37, corresponding parts ol. transmitting mechanism 38, to upper terminal of resistance 90, from thence, owing to the comparatively low resistance of the current path through the eontact 87 and arm 86 of the silencing switch, substmitially all of the current will pass through said switch to and through the lighting switch 62, electroniechanical gong 61, polarized register 63, telegraph key 66, telegraph sounder 67, the alarming and telegraphic devices included in circuit 36 at the tire apparatus houses 96, 96, 96, headquarters suitably n'lanipulated whereupon the sound ers 40 and 67 included in circuit with the key 66 so operated will act in" response thereto.

If it is desired to manually transmit a telegraphic signal from headquarters, the

controlling switch mechanism 42 should be positioned as shown, so that the switch arms 52 and 53 of said mechanism will not connect with either of their contacts, and the transmitting mechanism 38 should be suitably operated. The -operation otsaid transmitting mechanism will cause the circuit to lie-broken each time its movable contacts 43 and 44 are depressed and to be closed whenever said contacts are raised so as to connect with the normally closed contacts 45 and 46.

As the polarized alarn'iing devices 61, '62 and 63 are unresponsive to ordinary makes and breaks of the circuit '36, such as are produced by the operation of the key 66 or by'the operation of thetransmitting mechanism 38 when its controlling switch 42 is in the position shown, none 04 said alarm ing devices will respond to such telegraphic signals If it is desired to transmit a telegraphic signal by the use of the mechanical operating means 50, the controlling switch mechanism 41 should be so adjusted that its arms 52 and 53 will not connect with either of their contacts, whereupon the mechanical operating means may act through the extension 51 to swing the movable contacts 43 and 44 so as to alternately open and close the circuit 36 and thus cause response of the telegraph sounders 40 and 67 without causing response of any of the alarming device'sysuclias 61, 62 or 63.

hen either controlling switch mecha nism 41 or 42 is so positioned that its arms 52 and 53 do not connect with either of their associated contacts, no operative current change in the circuit 36 will result from themovable contacts 43 and 44 of the associated transmitting mechanism touching their respective contacts 47 and 48, as the conductors leading from saidcontacts 47 and 48 stand open at their controlling switch contacts 58 and 56 respectively.

If an alarm is transmitted from one of the boxes 22, the operation of said box will cause the usual current changes in box circuit 21, so as to cause the primary circuit 34 to' be alternately interrupted and closed at 'the eont a'ct fl'nger-s 32 and 33111-{LCCOEdance with practice well known to those skilled in this art. Such alarm will thereupon be sounded in a comparatively noiseless manner by the tap bell and recorded by the register 64, which are responsive to said primarycircuit 34, and will be suitably manifested at the other fire apparatus houses 96, 96, 96.

Upon the first stroke of an alarm so trans mitted, the paper feeding train associated with the register 64 will be conditioned to run, thereby causing the-circuit closing contacts 84 and 85 of said register to close a shunt path around the telegraph key 66, and upon each stroke of said alarm said train will be conditioned to'hold said cont'acts closed for a time, measured by the running of said train, longer than the longest interval. between strokes of any "alarm, so that throughout the transmission of such alarm over the circuit 34, and for a time thereafter longer than the longest inter-val between strokes of any alarm, the telegraph key'66 will be shunted by the closure ofthe contacts84 and 85 or the register 64.

During the transmission of such alarm over circuit 34, or immediately after the completion thereof, such alarm should be repeated over the secondary alarm circuit 36, in accordance with practice which is well understood by those skilled in this art, and

to that end controlling switchmechanism 41 may be set to the position shown, so that its arms 52 and 53 will connect with its contacts 56 and 58 respectively, and its mechanical operating means 50 may thereupon act in any suitable and well knownmanner, through the extension 51, to swing the movable-contacts '43 and 44 between their associated contacts 45, 46, 47 and 48.

i/Vhen the controlling switch mechanism 41 is thus positioned, thenorn'ially open 7 contact 47, which is associated" with inov able contact 43, is connected through its contact 58 and arm 53 withthe normally closed contact 46 associated with movable contact 44, and the normally open contact 48, which is associated with said movable contact 44, is connectedthrough its contact 56 and arm 52 with the normally closed contact 45 associated with movable contact- 43, thereby rendering said contacts 47 and 48 effective for reversing the polarity of-the current How in the circuit '36 upon each operation of the movable contacts. 43 and 44 of the transmitting mechanism '37.-

Assuming adherence to thecustom of awaiting the transmission over a primary circuit of at least one or two rounds of'such an alarm before initiating the transmission thereof over a secondary circuit, it is evi-. dent that an attendant whose attention is attracted by the operation of the compara-' tively noiseless tap bell 65, wouldbe enabled to determine, from the-alarin ou d d by said bell and recorded by the register 64, whether or not; his company should respond thereto, and would have ample time to move the arm 86 of the silencing switch from contact 87 to contact 88 before the initiation of the transmission of such alarm over circuit 36.

If the switch arm 86 is so moved from its contact 87 to its contact 88, and is thereafter held in such position throughout the transmission of such alarm over the circuit 36, the loud sounding alarming devices 61 and 62 will not respond to such alarm but the sounder 67 and register 63 will respond thereto, although neither of which would by its action manifest said alarm generally throughout the fire apparatus house in which they are installed.

After the alarm has been thus mani'liested tor the required or usual number of rounds, the attendant will know that the transmission thereof on the circuit 36 has been completed, and that he can therefore release the arm 86 of his silencing switch without risk of releasing it before the completion oi. the transmission of such alarm.

It the silencing switch is not operated during the transmission ot such alarm, upon the first reversal of the current [low in circuit 36 incident to the transmission of such alarm, the hook S0 of lighting switch 62 will be withdrawn from the path of the movable contact 78, which will thereupon act to cause the lamps (diagrammatically indicated by lamp 76) to be lighted and remain burning until such movable contact is manually restored, thus visibly manilesting throughout the tire apparatus house in which said lamps are installed that an alarm is being received, and upon reversal from abnormal. to normal direction of the current flow in said circuit 36, incident to the transmission of such alarm therein, the hannner H of the clectromechanical gong 6t will be released and will strike the gong 75, thus audibly manifesting such alarm throughout its fire apparatus house.

Upon the first stroke of an alarm so transmitted over the circuit; 36, the paper feeding train associated with the register 63 will be conditioned to run, thereby causing the circuit closing contacts Set and 8.6 of said register to close a shunt path around the telegraph key 66, and upon each stroke of said alarm said train will be conditioned to hold said contacts closed for a time, measured by the running of said train, longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm, so that throughout the transmission of such alarm over the circuit 36, the telegraph key 66 will be shunted by the closure of the contacts 8 t and of the register 63.

If the current flow in the primary alarm circuit 34 should be indefinitely interrupted,

as by a broken wire, the contacts ol tap bell 65 will close the shunt around the telegraph key 66 throughout the time that said circuit 3-1- stands open, and will thus prevent the secondary circuit 36 from being interrupted or disabled through the opening of said key, so that alarms sent out, either through the mechanically operable pole changing transmitting mechanism 37 or the manually operable pole changing transmitting mechanism 38, will be received without interrupti m or mutilation on account of any attempt to utilize the key 66 at or about the time of the transmission o'l such alarm.

From the lorcgoing it is evident. that the shunt current paths provided around the telegraph key 36, and ilorming a disabling means thcrelor. will be closed throughtmt and for a predetermined time following the transmission ol alarms, and throughout periods when the primary circuit 3t stands open.

Should a telephone or verbal alarm be received at the [ire apparatus house where the group ill ol emergency keys is located, the liremcn at such house may be notified ol such alarm by pressing the emergency key 93 one or more times, thereby causing the lighting switch 62 to act to light the lamps controlled thereby, and causing the electroniechanical gong 6]. to sound.

In the event of such a telephone or verbal alarm being received during the daytime, the emergency key 9 1; may be employed to cause the electromechanical gong 61. to sound without operating the lighting switch 62, and the emergency key 95 may be similarly employed :t'or causing the operation ol' the lighting switch 62 without causing the operation of the electromcclnmical gong 61.

\Vhen any 01 the emergency keys are thus operated, the current flow in the secondary alarm combination circuit 36 will only be opcratively altered through the portion o't' such circuit to which the terminals of the keys so operated are connected. although the current; [low through the rest ol the circuit will be somewhat increased because ot the connection of the local current source 92 to said circuit in parallel with one or more alarming devices in such polarity as to coiiperatc with the main current source 39 and thereby, in effect, more than cancel from said circuit. the resistance of the devices so shunted.

In Figs. 2 and 3 equipment adapted to be installed at tire alarm headtplarters is shown above the dotted line C-(/, and equipment adapted to be installed at tire apparatus houses is shown below said line.

Fig. 2 illustrates how features of this invention may be advantageously employed in a system having a combination circuit employing marginal current alarming devices instead of polarized alarming devices,

and employing transmitting mechanism ar ranged to cause simultaneous response of the alarming devices on each of two classes of duplicate alarm circuits, but otherwise similarto the alarm system shown in Fig. 1.

The combination circuit 236 includes main current source 239, suitable contacts 01"" transmitting mechanism 237 and controlling switch 241, and telegraph sounder 240 which are adapted to be located at fire alarm headquarters.

The alarm circuit 234 of the other class, includes current source 235' and is suitably connected to contacts of transmitting mechanism 237 and controlling switch 241.

The mechanism generally indicated at 237 is intended to typify any suitably operated transmitting mechanism, whether adapted for manual or mechanical operation and comprising, for example, a double pole telegraph key, or forming part of a mechanism such as a manual transmitter or automatic repeater.

The transmitting mechanism 237 comprises the movable contact 243 and its cotiperating normally closed contact 245 which are serially included in the circuit 234, the movable contact 244 and its coiiperating normally closed contact 246 which are serially included in the combination circuit 236, the normally open contact 248 adapted to cooperate with the movable contact 244 for effecting abnormal current changes in the combination circuit 236, the insulating yoke 249 which connects the movable contacts 243 and 244 for simultaneous operation, and a typical operating extension or button 251.

The controlling switch mechanism 241 comprises the arms 252, 253 and 259, the insulating yoke 254 which connects said arms for simultaneous movement, the contacts 255 and 255 for the arm 252, the contact 297 for the arm 253, the contact 257 for the arm 259, and suitably conductors connectingthe arm 252 with the normally closed contact 245, the arm 259 with the normally closed contact 246, the contacts 255 and 255' with the movable contact 243, the contact 297 with the normally open contact 248, and the contact 257 with the movable contact 244.

The relative construction and arrangement of the arms 252, 253, and 259 and their coiiperating contacts 255 and 255,297, and 257 is such that said arms may be moved to a position in which the arms 252 will not connect with either of its coiiperating contacts 255 or 255, the arm 253 will connect with its coeperating contact 297, and the arm259 will not connect with its coeperating contact 257; and that said arms may be moved to another position in which the arm 252 will connect with its cooperating con.- tact 255, but the arms 253 and 259 will not connect with their coeperating contacts;

and that said arms may be moved to a third position in which the arm 252 will connect with its contact 255 and the arm 259 will connect with its contact 257, but the arm 253 will not connect with its contact 297.

The resistance 298 is serially included in the combination circuit 236, one terminal of said resistance being connected to the switch arm 253 and-the other terminal of said resistance being connected to the switch arm 259.

The resistance 298 is such that, when effectively included in the combination circuit 236, it will so reduce the current flow in said circuit as to enable telegraphic signals to be transmitted over said circuit without causing the operation of marginal current alarming devices which may be included therein and which would be responsive to thecurrent which would flow through said circuit were such resistance not so included therein.

Eire apparatus house alarming devices are generally indicated by the marginal current loud sounding gong 261, the marginal current register 263, the register 264, and the direct acting tap bell 265.

Fire apparatus house telegraphic devices are diagrammatically indicated by the make and break transmitting device 266, which is shown as a closed circuit telegraph key, and the make and break non-marginal receiving device 267, which is conventionally shown at a telegraph sounder.

The marginal current alarming devices 261 and 263 are so constructed and arranged that they will act in response to makes and breaks of the circuit 236 when the resistance 298 is shunted out of said circuit and so that they will be unresponsive to makes and breaks in said circuit when the current path through said circuit includes-said resistance.

The telegraph key-266 and the electromagnet windings of the gong 261, register 263 and sounder 267 are serially connected in the combination circuit 236, and the wind ings of the register 264 and tap bell 265 are serially included in the circuit 234.

The register 264 is equipped with magnetic controlling structure which is arranged to suitably control or operate recording mechanism in any usual or well known manner, and comprises paper feeding mechanism and contacts 234 and 285 cont-rolled thereby and responsive to the operation of such recording mechanism in a manner simi lar to that described in connection with the register 63 shown in Fig. 1, so as to similarly control a shunt current path around the telegraphic transmitting key 266.

The tap bell 265 is providedwith suitable electromagnet structure which is adapted to cause said bell to sound as a direct acting tap bell in a well known manner, circuit contacts being associated with the armature of said bell whereby a shunt around the tele graphic transmitting key 266 will be closed during all periods when the armature of said bell is in retracted position.

The shunt contacts of the register 264 are provided for the purpose of disabling the telegraph key 266 upon the lirst stroke of any alarm transmitted over circuit 234 and to thereafter maintain said key in disabled condition until after the elapse ot a time, during which no alarm strokes have been transmitted over said circuit 234, which is longer than the longest interval between the strokes of any alarm.

The shunt contacts of the tap bell 265 are provided for the purpose of disabling the telegraph key 266 throughout all periods during which the circuit 234 stands interrupted.

The emergency key 294 is so connected and arranged that, when operated, it will connect the local current source 292 around the portion of the circuit 236 which includes the Winding of the alarming device 261., said key being so connected and arranged that, when said local current source is so coir nected to said circuit, the current 'l'low through the windings of the gong 261 will be operatively increased substantially as when the circuit 236 is closed while the re sistance 298 shunted.

Other fire apparatus houses 296, 296 are diagrammatically indicated as being serially included in the duplicate alarm circuits 234 and 236, and each is assumed to be equipped with such alarming and telegraphic devices as the comlitions o't service thereat may require.

The operation of the fire alarm system shown in Fig. 2 is as follows:

Under normal conditions the alarm circuits 234 and 236 are closed, the strength of the current flow in combination circuit 236 being such that the magnetic structures of the marginal current alarming devices 261 and 263 are insutliciently magnetized to :ause said devices to respoml tomakes or breaks in the current flow in said circuit, the disabling shunt contacts of the alarn'iing devices 264 and 265 stand open, the mechanically movable parts shown are at rest, and the normal current path through the combination circuit 236 is as iliollows,-l'rom the right hand terminal 01' current source 239, through movable contact 244, normally closed contact 246, resistance 298, headquarters sounder 240, alarn'iing and telegraphic devices included in circuit 236 at one of the fire apparatus houses 296, sounder 267, key 266, register 263, gong 261, the alarming and telegrapl'iic devices included in circuit 236 at the other of the tire apparatus houses 296, to the left hand terminal of current source 239.

It now the key 266 is operated for the 263 will not act in response thereto as the current llow through the circuit 236 is insullicicnt to cause responsive action 01 said alarming devices on account of the presence of resistance 298 therein.

lt it is desired to transmit a telegraphic signal from headquarters, the controlling switch mechanism 241 should be so positioned that the arm 252 will connect with its contact 255 but. the arms 253 and 259 will not connect with their coi'iperating contacts, whereupon the movement of the contact 243 incident to the operation of the transmitting mechanism 237 will not operatively alter the current flow in circuit 234 as the contacts 2-1-3 and 245 of said transmitting meclmnism will be shunted through arm 252 and contact 255', but the movement of the contact 244 will cause alternate makes and breaks in the circuit 236, said circuit being broken whenever said. contact 244 is moved away from normally closed contact 246 and closed whenever said contacts come together, but the engagement of contact 244 with the normally open contact 248 will not operatively a [foot the circuit 236 as the conductor connecting contact 248 will be dead ended at contact 297 of the controlling switch 241.

It will thus be seen that when the controL ling switch 241 is in the position where its arm 252 rests upon its contact 255, the operation of transn'litting mechanism 237 will not cause responsive action of the alarming devices in circuits 22-34 and 236 but will cause responsive action of the telegraph sounders in circuit 236.

If the controlling switch 241 is so positioned that. its arm 252 rests upon its cotiperating contact 255, the circuits 234 and 236 will not be operatively atlected by the actuation of the transmitting mechanism 267 as the contacts 241, and 2 15 and the contacts 244 and 246 o't' said transmitting mechanism will be shunted through contact 255 and, arm 252 and through contact 257 and arm 259 respectively of said controlling switch, and the conductor connecting contact 248 will be dead ended at contact 297.

Under normal conditions the controlling switch 241 may be positioned as shown in the drawing, so that the arms 252 and 259 do not touch their coiiperating contacts when the arm .253 is resting upon its contact 297.

ll the transmitting mechanism 237 is actuated while the controlling switch 241 is positioned as just described, upon each depression of the movable contacts 243 and 244, the circuit 234 will be interrupted and the current path of circuit 236 will be shunted around resistance 298 through switch arm 253, contact 297 and normally open contact 248.

Upon each such extraordinary energization of circuit 236, the marginal current alarming devices 261 and 263 will be efiectively energized and a stroke of the alarm will be sounded by the gong 261 and recorded by the register 263. Upon each break in the circuit 234 the alarming devices 264 and 265 will act,rthe former to record and the latter to sound a stroke of said alarm.

Upon the first stroke of an alarm so transmitted, thepaper feeding train associated with the register 264 will be conditioned to run, thereby causing the circuit closing contacts 284 and 285 of said register to close a shunt path around the telegraph key 266, and upon each stroke of said alarm, said train will be conditioned to hold said contacts closed for a time, measured by the running of said train, longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm, so that, throughout the transmission of such alarm over circuits 234 and 236, the telegraph key 266 will be shunted by the closure of the contacts 284 and 285 of said register 264 v If the current flow in the alarm circuit 234 should be indefinitely interrupted, as by a broken Wire, the contacts of tap bell 265 will close the shunt around the telegraph key 266 throughout the time that said circuit 234 stands open, and will thus prevent the combination circuit 236 from being interrupted or disabled through the opening of said key While thecircuit 234 stands open.

In the event of a telephone or verbal alarm being received, the emergency key 294 may be employed, to cause the gong 261 to sound, by so connecting, the local current source 292 to the terminals of said gong as to cause an extraordinary current fiow therethrough.

, Whenever the emergency key 294 is thus depressed it will cause the current flow through the combination circuit 236 to be slightly decreased on account of the increased fall of potential across the ter minals of the gong 261 due to the added current flow therethrough but such decrease'in the, current flow in thecircui't 236 Willbe insuflicient to cause operative response of any of the alarming or telegraphic devices included' therein. I

' Fig. 3 shows an application-of certain features of this invention to a combination circuit like that. shown in the Kirnan patent hereinbefore referred to.

g The box circuit 321 includes alarm boxes 322, 32 2,current source 323, and repeater f I 'Qcjonnection, with the repeater magnet 324, pole changing transmitting mechanism,

armature 325, the arm 326 pivoted at 327 and carrying said armature and the step by step detent ledges 328, the detent arm 329 which is arranged to so cotiperate with said detent ledges that said arm will be released Whenever the armature 325 moves to retracted position and having made a revolution will be stopped regardless of Whether said armature stands in attracted or retracted position and will thereafter only be released when the armature moves from attracted to retracted position, the cylinder 330 moving with the detent arm' 329, the contact fingers 332 and 333, the contact plate 331 so carried'by said cylinder as to normally stand out of contact with said contact fingers but to connect said fingersv during a suitable part of the rotation of the cylinder 330, the

pole changing mechanism 337, and mechanical operating means such as is usual in fire alarm repeaters and well understood by those skilled in this art, typically indicated by the time train 350, and comprising means adapted to cause or permit the movement of the pole changing mechanism 337 to abnormal position uponthe first stroke ofan alarm responded to by the cylinder 330 and only restoring said mechanism 337 to nor-. mal position after a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm.

- The circuit 336 includes current source 339 and has connected therein the contact fingers 332 and 333 so that said circuit may be made and broken by the cooperation of the plate 331 with said fingers, the pole changing mechanism 337 being so connected in said circuit that, when operated, it will, reverse the direction of current flow therethrough.

The conventionally indicated telegraph sounder 340 and key 338 are connected by suitable conductors in series with each other and between the normally closed contact 346 and the contact finger 332, and the contact finger 333 is connected to the normally open contact 347 so that, when the pole changing mechanism 337 is in normal condition,

said sounder and key are included in the current path of circuit 336, and so that, when saidpole changing mechanism is inabnormal condition, the contact fingers and 333 will be substituted in said current path for said sounder and key.

Fire apparatus house alarming devices are indicated by the polarized register 363 and the polarized tap bell 365, fire apparatus house telegraphic devices being indicated by the non-polarized make and break telegraphic receiving device diagrammatis cally represented by the sounder 367 and a make and break telegraphic transmittingdevice diagrammatically indicated by the key Inasmuch as the'register 363 and the tap bell 365 have similarly formed magnet structure, corresponding parts thereof are represented by like reference characters.

The magnet structures embodied in the register 363 and tap belt 365 are similar to those provided in the gong 6t, lighting switch 62, and register 63, as described in connection with Fig. 1, except that; the number and size of the permanent magnets used should be such that, when the intended strength of current is flowing through the electromagnet windings in abnormal direction (as when it has been reversed by the mechanism 337), the nn'ignetism ot. the electromagnct structure will exceed that which may readily pass through the permanent magnets 370 to an extent sutlieient to develop consequent poles adjacent to the armature 369, so that said armature may thereby be moved to or retained in attracted position, so that upon interruption of the current flow through such windings the residual or permanent magnetism in the cores of the eleetromagnet sections 368 will act in series with the magnetization of the permanent magnets 370 so that the magnet structure will have but two free poles, which will be developed at the ends of the electromagnet cores which are not adjacent to the armature, and as the poles adjacent to the armatnrcs will then be neut 'alized, said armature 369 will be permitted to move to retracted position.

The polarized register 363 is equipped with magnetic controlled structure, which is arranged to suitably control or operate recording mechanism in any usual or well known manner, and comprises paper feeding mechanism and contacts 38 i and 385 controlled thereby and responsive to the operation of such recording mechanism in a manner similar to that described in connection with the register 63 shown in Fig. '1, so as to sin'rilarly control a shunt current path around telegraph key 366 and telegraph sounder 367.

As the tap bell 365 is responsive to all alarms trz'msn'titted over circuit 336, no useful purpose would be served by having the sounder 367 also respoi'tsive to such alarms, and inasn'tucl'i as the entire intensity ol the current flow employed for magnetizing the magnet structl'n'es ot the alarming devices 363 and 365 as already described, need not be employed for telegraphic signals, it is advantageous to son'iewhat increase the intensity of the line current tlow during alarms and to decrease it at other times. and the telegraph sounder 367 is theretore included in the shunt controlled by the contacts 384 and 385, and the sounder lit) is included in the current path which is nor mally closed through contact 346 but is shunted by contact 3 17 during alarms, so that said sounders are included in the circuit 336 when the pole cl'langing mechanism $337 is in normal position and the shunt controlled by the contacts 38-t and 385 is open, but the resistance ot. said sounders is excluded from the circuit 336 during the transmission of alarms.

The operation oi. the devices shown in Fig. 3 is as follows:

Under normal conditions the box circuit 321 and the combination circuit 336 are closed, the direction of current tlow in the circuit 336 being such as will magnetize the clectromagnet sections 368 of the alarming devices 363 and 365 in parallel with their permanent magnet sections, so that their associated armatnrcs 236$) will stand in attracted position, and in the event of the interruption of such current flow will be retained in attracted position as already described; the disabling shunt. contacts of the alarming device 363 stand open; and the mechanically movable parts shown are at rest.

The transmission of telegraphic signals may be accomplished as already described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, and the polarized alarming devices 363 and 365 will not respond to the breaks in the circuit 336 incident to the transmission of such telegraphic messages tor the reasons lnn'einbe- :tore explained.

It an alarm is transmitted from one 01 the boxes the operation of said box will cause the usual current changes in box circuit 321, so as to cause the cylinder $530 to be alternately released and stopped in accordamce with practice well understood iy those skilled in this art. Upon the first release ot the cylinder 3 the plate 331 will connect the lingers 3 -32 2353 and the mechanically operating means 356 will act through the pole changing mechanism ,53 to reverse the direction ot the current How in, the combination circuit 336 and said circuit 336 will thereafter be interrupted by the withdrawal of the plate 631 from lingers 332 and 33 Upon the reversal of the current flow through the circuit 336, the electrtnnagnet sections ot the magnet structures ot' the polarized alarming devices 363 and -365 will be magnetized in series with the wrn'ianmtt magnet sections of said structures, the in tensity ol' such llltlQllttiilZtli'lOll so exceeding that which may readily pass through said permanent; magnets that the armatnrcs 369 will be retained in attracted position, but as soon as the circuit 336 is broken, by the withdrawal ot the plate trom engagement. with the fingers 9,39, and 333, the magnetization o't said electromagnet sections will be decreased to the intensity maintained by the residual magnetism ot the comparatively retentive cores thereot. which intensity will not exceed that which may readily pass through said permanent magnets, and therefore the consequent poles adjacent to the armatures 369 will be neutralized and said armatures Wlll move to retracted position,

thereby causing the bell 365 to sound'and the recording mechanism oi the register 363 to act, to record the first stroke of the alarm and to start the paper feeding train running and thereby close the shunt around the key 366 and sounder 367 at the contacts 384i and It will be noted that, upon the initial action of the pole changing mechanism 337,

the current path established thereby for the last stroke of an alarm, which is longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm, the contacts 384. and 385 will-be separated, thereby breaking the shunt around the key 366 and the sounder 367, and the mechanical operating means 350 willact to close the circuit 336 and to restore the current flow therethroughto normal direction and through its normal path including the key 338 and the sounder 34:0, and the armatures 369 of the alarming devices 363 and 365 will thereupon be moved to attracted position. n

Fig. 4 shows an application of certain features of this invention to the substation or fire house equipment whereby an alarming device. and a telegraph sounder may be so connected and arranged that an ordinary alarming device, without either marginal current or'polarized magnetic structure, may be employed and said alarming device will respond only to alarms and the telegraph sounder will respond only to telegraphic signals.

The register 463 may be provided with magnet structure similar to that described'in connection with polarized register 63 shown in Fig. l or polarized register 36;) shown in i In addition to shunt controlling contacts 48 iand 4-85 coiperating with the paper feeding train of the register 463 there'is provided a contact e85 with which the contact +1.84 isadapted to normallyconnect, the control of said contacts being such' that, when the paper feeding train isat rest, the contacts 4.13 and 485" will. be connected but the contact 4-85 will be separated; therefrom,

and, while the paper feeding train of said connection with Fig, 1.

register is conditioned for running, the contacts 48 i and- 485 will be connected and the contact485 will be disconnected therei rom. A terminal of the telegraph sounder e67 and a terminal of the direct acting non;- polarized tap bell 465 are eonnected'to each other and to contact 484, the remaining terminal of said sounder being connected through its associated telegraph key -4t66. to the contact 485 and to the combination circuit 436, and the remainging terminal of the alarming device e being connected to the contact -il' and through the windings of the register 463 with a terminal of the combination circuit d36.

The tap bell 4-65 typically indicates an 3' alarming device which can either be comparatively noiseless like the tap bell 65 shown 1n Fig; l, a loud sounding gong similar to the electromechanical gong 61 shown in Fig. 1,

or the loud sounding gong 261 shown in Fig. 2, except that the alarming 'devlce e65 does not require either polarized or marginal current magnetic structure.

@rd-mary makes and iblGELliS 1n the circuit436 may be produced by means of the a key 466 when the contact 484lis in normal position and such makes and breaks will cause responsive action 01. the telegraph sounder i67.

Abnormal current changes in the 'circuit1l36 will cause responsive action of theregister l63 whereby the contact 48% will be moved away from the contact 185 and against the contact 485, therebyrendering the alarming device 1-65 responsive to such abnormal current changes and the sounder 4L6? unresponsive thereto, and as said sounder and bell may be of approximately the same resistance, it is evident that the substitutioni of one for the other may be made without materially altering the resistance'of the circuit 436.

Fig. 5 shows means for controlling the shunt around telegraphic devices such asi that described in connection with contacts 8-1 and 85 shown in Fig. 1, whereby said contacts will be automatically closed at the. commencement of an alarm but will not be automatically. opened, thus disabling the telegraphic transmitting devices from the 60111111811681116111; of an alarm until such contacts are manually restored to normal condition. V v

The arrangement typlcally lndicated by Fig. 5 will be found useful in applying this invention to alarming devices-Which lack a' time train suitable for operatingcontacts position whether such position be its attracted position or its retracted position, said armature 5(3S'rbeing n'ovided with a ledge 599 which is adapted to support an end of the movable contact 584: and. hold same out of engagement with the stationary contact 585 so that whenever the armature 56S) moves to abnormal position or to the position which it assumes only when subjected to extraordinary current flow in its circuit (it it is incliuled in the combina tion circuit) or to a break in its circuit: (it. it is included in a circuit of a class other than a combination circuit), contact 584 is permitted to engage contact: 585. Said contacts 584: and 585 are suitably connected with a shunt around a telegraphic device or devices so that Whenever said armature moves to its abnormal position said devices will be shunted and said shunt will continue regardless of the subsequent movement of the armature 569 until the contact:- 584 is manually restored to its normal position.

The novel polarized magnet structure shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore described does not Form part of this invention but forms the subject matter of" Letters Patent 1,176,421 and 1,176,422, dated March 21, 1916, and is therefore not herein claimed, but what I claim and dcsire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a signal system :-make and break telegraphic transmitting aml receiving devices, alarming devices so constructed as to be responsive to eXtraordinary current changes but not to be responsive to ordinary makes and breaks, one of said alarmi ng devices comprising recording mechanism having a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon-each stroke of an alarm to run for a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm, transmitting mechanism adapted to cause responsive operation of said alarming devices, and disabling mechanism for one ()i said telegraphic transmitting devices suitably controlled by the running of said train.

in a signal systein:make and break telegraphic transmitting devices, non-polarized telegraphic receiving devices, poleehanging transmitting mechanism, polarized alarming devices responsive to the operation at? said pole-changing mechanism, one of said alarming devices comprising recording mechanism having a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon each stroke ct an alarm to min for a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm, and disabling mechanism for one of said telegraphic transmitting devices suit ably controlled by the running of said train.

3. in a signal system :-make and break telegraphic transmitting and receiving devices, alarming devices so constructed as to be responsive to extraordinary current changes but not to be responsive to ordinary makes and breaks, one of said alarming devices comprising recording mechanism having a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon each stroke of an alarm to run for a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm, transmitting mechanism adapted to cause responsive operation of said alarming devices, and a shunt for one of said telegraphic transmitting devices so controlled by said train as to be closed during the running of said train.

-l. in a signal system :make and break telegraphic transmitting devices, non polarized telegraphic receiving devices, polechanging transmitting mechanism, polarized alarming devices responsive to the operation of said pole-changing mechanism, one of said alarming devices comprising recording mechanism having a paper feeding train adapted to be conditioned upon each stroke of an alarm to run for a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of any alarm, and a shunt -tor one of said telegraphic transmitting devices so controlled by said train as to be closed during the running of said train.

5. In a signal s vstem:-a central station and one or more substations; make and break telegraphic transmitting and receiving devices at substations; alarming devices at said substations some of which are so constructed as to be responsive to extraordinary current. changes but not to be responsive to ordinary makes and breaks; two classes of alarm 'circuits each including certain of said alarming devices at the substations and transmitting mechanism at the central station adapted to cause responsive operation of said alarming devices, one class ol alarm circuits including telegraphic devices and alarming devices so constructed as to be responsive to extraordinary current changes but not to be responsive to ordinary makes and breaks, and the other class o'l' alarm circuits including alarming devices each comprising means adapted to close a circuit during the opera tion o't' said devices and shunts at one or more substations. tor the telegraphic transmitting device: thereat, suitably controlled by said circuit closing means. i

(i. in a signal system :-a central station and one or more substations; make and break telegraphic transmitting and non-polarized telegraphic receiving devices at substations; alarming devices at said substations some of which are polarized; two classes of alarm circuits each including certain of said alarming devices at the substations and transmit ting mechanism at the central station adapted to cause responsive operation of said alarming devices, one class of alarm circuits including telegraphic devices and polarized alarming devices, and the other class of alarm circuits including alarming devices each comprising means adapted to close a circuit during the operation of said devices; and shunts at one or more substations, for

the telegraphic transmitting devices thercat,

suitably controlled by said circuit closing means.

.7. In a signal system :-a central station and one or more substations; make and break telegraphic transmitting and receiving devices at substations; alarming devices at said substations some of which are so constructed as to be responsive to extraordinary current changes but not to be responsive to ordinary makes and breaks; two classes of alarm circuits each including certain of said alarming devices at the. substations comprising means adapted to close a circuit during the operation of said devices, and transmit ting mechanism at the central station adapted to. cause responsive operation of said alarming devices, one class of alarm'circuitsincluding telegraphic devices and alarming devices so constructed as to be responsive to extraordinary current changes but not to be responsive to' ordinary makes and breaks; and shunts at one or more. substations,xfor the telegraphic transmitting devices thereat, suitably controlled by said circuit closing ineans- I S. In, a; signal system :a central station and one or more substations make and break telegraphic transmitting and non-polarized telegraphic receiving devices at substations; alarn'ri ng devices, at said substations some of which are polarized; two classes of alarm circuits each including certain of said, 811313111? ing, devices at the substations comprising means adapted to close a circuit duringithe operation of said devices, and transmitting.

mechanism at the central station adapted to cause responsiveoperation of said alarming devices,'one class of alarm circuits including telegraphic devices and polarized alarmin devices and shunts at one or nilore substations, for the telegraphic transmitting devices thereat, suitably controlled by said circuit closing means.

i 9. In asignalsystem :*a central'station and one or more substations; make and break telegraphic transmitting and receiving devices at substations; alarming devices at said substations some of which are so constructed iasto be responsive to extraordinary current changes but not to be responsive to ordinary makes and breaks; two

' classes oi? alarm circuits each including cer- 6,0.

tain said alarming devices at the substations and transmitting mechanism at the central station adapted to cause responsiveoperation of said alarming devices, one class.

of alarm circuits including telegraphic devices and alarming devices, so constructed as to be responsive to extraordinary current changes but not to be responsive to or dinary makes and breaks, and the other class of alarm circuits including alarming devices comprising recording mechanism having paper feeding trains adapted to be conditioned upon each stroke of an alarm to run for a time longer than the longest intcrval between strokes of any alarm; and disabling mechanism at one or more" substations for the telegraphic transmitting devices thereat suitably controlled by the running of said trains.

10. In a signal system z a central station and one or more substations; make and break telegraphic transmitting and nonpolarized telegraphic receiving devices at substations; alarming devices at said substations sonieof which are polarized; two classes of alarm circuits each including certain of said alarming devices at the substations and transmitting mechanism at the central station adapted to cause responsive mitting devices thereat suitably controlled by the running of said trains.

1 1. In a signal system :a central station and one or more substations; make and break telegraphic transmitting. and receiving devicesv at substati is; alarming devices at said, substations some of which are so' constructed as to be responsive to extraordinary current changes but not tor-be responsive to. ordinary makes and b-reaks;.two

classes. of alarm circuits each including certain of said! alarmingdevices at the subsla tions and transmitting. mechanism at the centralv station adapted tocause responsive operationset said alarming devices, one class of alarm circuits includingtelegraphic devices and alarmingdevices so constructed as to be responsive to. ex'traordinarji. current changes-but not. to be responsive toordinary makes and breaks, and the other class of alarm circuits including alarming devices comprisingv recording. mechanismhaving; paper: feeding trainsadapted to be conditioned upon each. stroke of an: alarnn to run for a time longer than the longest interval between strokes of. any alarm; and shunts at one or moresubstationsfor the telegraphic transmitting devices, thereat: so

connected and controlled. by said" trains as to be closed dur nghthe running ot said trains.

12.. In. a. signal systenrz,a central station. 

